Cloudy skies didn’t stop nearly 2,000 students, staff and special guests from attending the Cranston High School West Homecoming Pep Rally at the conclusion of their first School Spirit Week last week.

The event was held to get the student body excited for Friday night’s football game against Barrington High School and featured a showcase of the school’s many sports teams, the band, cheerleading teams and performances by the Falconettes and Westernettes. Student council officers Michael Napolitano and Gabby Sayaf emceed the event.

Philip Lachance directed the school choir in the Star Spangled Banner as the colors were presented. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Dennis Mendes led the presentation of the colors and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Principal Tom Barbieri addressed the crowd.

“Are you fired up today? As I look around at all the faces today, I’m a proud principal. I’m fortunate to walk through our house, through our hallways every day. We’re a falcon family,” Barbieri said as he welcomed the crowds filling the stands around the track. “Today is the only day every class comes together to celebrate our school spirit. There are almost 2,000 of us here today.”

Barbieri asked for a round of applause for the teachers and staff, the athletes, the student resource officers, the administrators, the student body and families who were present. He also welcomed the eighth-grade students from Western Hills Middle School who were in attendance for the first time ever.

“Get fired up! At West, the one thing I know is we are falcons, and falcons fly together and stay together,” Barbieri said.

“Some tried to stop us from having this day, some tried to prevent us from being here today,” he continued, referring to the recent threats of violence affecting the schools in Cranston, Johnston and Warwick. “Remember that no one will come to our house, no one will tell us that we can’t do something because we are falcons, and falcons fly together.”

Special guests including Mayor Allan Fung, School Committee members Janice Ruggieri and Michael Traficante and Central Office administrators Jeannine Nota-Masse and Joseph Rotz were present at the event.

“On behalf of the city of Cranston, I bring you greetings from the city,” Fung said. “I want to thank all of the faculty and staff of Cranston High School West for all you do every day, and students, I want you to enjoy this weekend and turn this city Falcon Red.”

Napolitano and Sayaf announced the various sports and spirit teams including West’s cheerleaders, unified cheerleaders, volleyball teams, girls’ tennis team, cross country teams, soccer teams, and the football team as each team made their way onto the field. The Falcon band played as the Westernettes and Falconettes accompanied them, and the senior class was featured in their own act at the end of the event.